The 71st United Nations General Assembly has got underway in New York, with the global refugee crisis and the conflict in Syria once again in the spotlight.
For the first time the UN will hold summits on refugees.
Also with only three and a half months left in charge, the matter of Ban Ki-moon's replacement is likely to be a key component of this year's two-week meeting.
Nick Harper reports from New York.
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The worst refugee crisis since the end of World War Two.
Rising sea levels and a global threat from terrorist organizations.
And more than five years of war in Syria.
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The world's most pressing problems. This year presided over by this man, Peter Thomson of Fiji.
It's the first time a Pacific small island developing nation has held the one-year Presidential role.
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Peter Thomson, UN General Assembly President
"We will strive to find new methods to sustain peace, to resolve entrenched conflicts, diminish the atrocities of global terrorism, better manage migrant and refugee flows, and resolve the many humanitarian crises."
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His personal focus is climate change, with Fiji in February becoming the first country to ratify the UN agreement.
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But the central focus will undoubtedly be the international refugee crisis. There'll be two high-level sessions, one led by US President Barack Obama. But there's already skepticism. As Richard Gowan, Fellow, European Council on Foreign Relations explains.
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Richard Gowan, Fellow, European Council on Foreign Relations
"Most of the signs are that while there will some limited progress on refugee issues, it's going to be fairly marginal. No leader is going to risk big big domestic blow-back by coming to the UN and offering homes to thousands of refugees. That's just not politically conceivable."
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And then, the long shadow of the Syria conflict once again falls over the proceedings.
A Security Council resolution could endorse the latest ceasefire. But some like Susannah Sirkin, Physicians for Human Rights fear that meeting could be mainly symbolic.
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Susannah Sirkin, Physicians for Human Rights
"It would be incredible if we would see this year at the Security and at the General Assembly a common consensus that brings Russia and the United States to an agreement. Those of us who have been working now for almost to stop the violations in this crisis are really worried that nothing new here in New York City."
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There'll also be a valedictory nature to this year's meeting - the final one for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
Who'll replace him is yet to be decided. Expect lobbying and backroom dealings from governments pushing their candidates.
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Yet there's a fear that as has happened in the past the promises and pledges made in New York won't be converted into action once delegations return home.
So even before the Refugee and Syria meetings get started there's a sense that this year's General Assembly may once again be more about show than substance.
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